She is ready to kick butt, but this tiny Mitchells Plain fighter needs your help to take part in prestigious tournaments overseas.
Keira George, 10, must raise R50 000 to have her dream come true.
The Tafelsig meisie has the opportunity for a second time to attend the International Iska World Championship Tour in Dubai, Miami and Orlando.
The competition will be held from 25 June to 10 July next year.
The karate kid got the opportunity to attend the same tournament earlier this year, but her parents could not afford to send her.
Her mother, Theresa George, 48, says her laatlammetjie has made her very proud.
HONOUR: Keira George, 10, eyes world tournament
“Keira has only been doing karate for two years and when she got the first opportunity to go overseas, I could not believe it,” she says.
“We couldn’t send her to the tournament in June as I wasn’t working and neither was her father at the time.
“I was very stressed and disappointed and Keira was so sad.
“Now that she has another opportunity to go and I would like her to go as she has a passion for this.”
The family has started raising funds with raffles and high teas but still needs almost the full amount of R50 000 after only managing to raise R2000 so far.
Little Keira, who currently has a blue belt, will be promo- ted to purple belt in February.
“She attends the dojo on Tuesday and Thursdays, but practices every day at home,” her mom says.
“She would practice and children in the road would stare.
“She eventually started teaching the children katas and they love it.”
CHAMPION: Karate star Keira with her proud parents, Bradley Kayter and Theresa George
Keira says she wants other kids to realise they can dream big and attain their goals.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, you can always achieve your goals. Look at me, I am from Tafelsig and I go for what I want,” she says.
“When I grow up, I would like to be a paediatrician, work part-time with animals and become a sensei and own my own dojo,” the determined little girl says.
On Tuesday evening, Keira was awarded the female kata student of the year at the Shukokai Karate Academy.
Her sensei, Chanelle Gewers, says Keira has what it takes to win at the tournament.
“She 100 percent deserves this award. This is a student who has worked hard since day one and she is still going strong,” she says.
“That hard work has paid off and that is why she is going to the world champs with me. I could not be more proud of her,” Gewers said.
If you’d like to assist Keira, please contact her mom, Theresa, on 081 543 8024.